Benzodiazepines are a class of agents that work on the central nervous system, acting selectively on gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptors in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits or reduces the activity of nerve cells (neurons) within the brain. Benzodiazepines open GABA-activated chloride channels, and allow chloride ions to enter the neuron. This makes the neuron negatively charged and resistant to excitation.

Because of his weight, Jimmie Jones was on the waiting list for a new kidney for 17 years. University of Illinois Hospital surgeons used robotic surgery to give him a life without dialysis.

They are the leaders of the pack when it comes to minimally invasive surgeries. Laparoscopic and robotic. Different techniques with the same benefits.

"There's significantly less blood loss, it's a quicker procedure, quicker recovery, less scarring, less chance for post operative wound complications or infections," says Dr. Darren Miter, laparoscopic surgeon with Lee Memorial Health System.

In a laparoscopic procedure surgeons operate through a series of poke holes, manually inserting thin cutting tools and a camera to provide magnified vision. It's used in a variety of surgical specialties.

"The vast majority of gallbladder surgeries are performed laparoscopically. A single incision in the belly button, one up under the breastbone and either one or two in the right upper side of the belly. Using long skinny instruments and looking up at a TV monitor, remove the gallbladder that way," says Dr. Miter.

While laparoscopic is a hands-on approach, robotic procedures are surgeon-controlled. Working at a console, surgeons direct the robotic arms, which have super-human capabilities and 3D, hi def vision.

"I mean you have to see it to believe it, that's a great tool to have. You got a very good depth perception. Plus the other thing when you're working with your hands it's more intuitive," says Dr. Nagesh Ravipati, colorectal surgeon with Lee Memorial Health System.

The robotic system performs maneuvers the human hand can't.

"Especially if you have to do any suturing, it is so much simpler with the robots because you can just turn around 360 degrees," says Dr. Ravipati.

Robotic surgery is gaining momentum in precise procedures, including the field of cancer.

"The robot is good when you're going to operate on just one field. For rectal surgery you're in one place, it's docked. It gives you the best 3 dimensional vision," says Dr. Ravipati.

Robotic and laparoscopic. Both cutting edge options, with less cutting.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we've been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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Mini-Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Intraoperative Cholangiogram for Symptomatic Cholelithiasis (Gallstones) - Standard
Authors: Brunt LM1, Singh R1, Yee A2
Published: September 26, 2017

AUTHOR INFORMATION
1 Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
2 Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

DISCLOSURE
No authors have a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this production or publication.

ABSTRACT
Minimal invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the typical surgical treatment for cholelithiasis (gallstones), where patients present with a history of upper abdominal pain and episodes of biliary colic. The classic technique for minimal invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves four ports: one umbilicus port, two subcostal ports, and a single epigastric port. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) has instituted a six-step strategy to foster a universal culture of safety for cholecystectomy and minimize risk of bile duct injury. The technical steps are documented within the context of the surgical video for (1) achieving a critical view of safety for identification of the cystic duct and artery, (2) intraoperative time-out prior to management of the ductal structures, (3) recognizing the zone of significant risk of injury, and (4) routine intraoperative cholangiography for imaging of the biliary tree. In this case, the patient presented with symptomatic biliary colic due to a gallstone seen on the ultrasound in the gallbladder. The patient was managed a mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy using 3mm ports for the epigastric and subcostal port sites with intraoperative fluoroscopic cholangiogram. Specifically, the senior author encountered a tight cystic duct preventing the insertion of the cholangiocatheter and the surgical video describes how the author managed the cystic duct for achieving a cholangiogram, in addition to the entire technical details of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic (or-thog-NATH-ik) surgery, corrects irregularities of the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve the way they work. Making these corrections may also improve your facial appearance. Jaw surgery may be a corrective option if you have jaw problems that can't be resolved with orthodontics alone. In most cases, you also have braces on your teeth before surgery and during recovery after surgery until healing and alignment are complete. Your orthodontist can work with your oral and jaw and face (maxillofacial) surgeon to determine your treatment plan.

Orthognathic surgery presented in this video in order of appearance. 1. Advancement Genioplasty 2. Maxillary Advancement 3. Maxillary impaction 4. BSSO Mandibular Advancement 5. BSSO Mandibular Set-back 6. Maxillary Posterior Impaction

There’s a strange, mysterious world inside us, an alien-looking environment that turns the food we eat into nutrients that keep us alive. Michael Mosley swallows a camera to take a closer look.

Echo Therapeutics Symphony tCGM Continuous Glucose Monitor

One technique to relocate a dislocated elbow with anatomy diagrammed out.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons at Columbia are using a new device with magnetic technology that avoids the need for multiple spine-lengthening surgeries to correct early-onset scoliosis, a severe curvature of the spine in young children. In April 2014, Michael Vitale, MD, the Ana Lucia Professor of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at CUMC and 1995 graduate of P&S, performed the first procedure in the New York area, using the device to treat a 5-year-old boy. When braces and casts cannot control scoliosis in young children, surgeons turn to growing rods, which help correct the curve while allowing the spine to grow. When spinal maturity is near, the rods are removed and a spinal fusion can be performed. But during years of treatment with growing rods, patients must undergo surgery every six months to lengthen the rods to keep up with the patients’ growth. A patient may undergo eight to 10 procedures, which are costly and result in lost time for parents at work and children at school. The new device—MAGEC (MAGnetic Expansion Control) rods—contains a mechanism inside the growing rods that allows surgeons to lengthen the rods with a handheld external magnet, without surgery.

Wondering how pregnancy happens? It’s not as simple as it seems! Pregnancy takes several days, and there are lots of steps. Here are the basics on how pregnancy works.

What is a female condom? How do female condoms work to prevent pregnancy and STDs? Learn all about female condoms — also called internal condoms — in this video.

The abortion pill is a medicine called mifepristone that ends an early pregnancy.In general, it's used up to 70 days — 10 weeks — after the first day of a woman's last period. Patients over this mark can have an in-clinic abortion procedure.

Simple or Total Mastectomy. The entire breast is removed, but no lymph nodes are taken in this procedure. Simple mastectomy is most frequently used for further cancer prevention or when the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.Oct 29, 2014

Removal and Replacement with Breast Capsulectomy

World's first osteotomy for spine deformity

Throughout your life, your skin will change constantly, for better or worse. In fact, your skin will regenerate itself approximately every 27 days. Proper skin care is essential to maintaining the health and vitality of this protective organ.

Teratomas are tumors made up of tissues, such as hair, muscle, and bone. They occur most often in the ovaries in women, and the testicles in men. They may be benign or malignant. Symptoms vary depending on the location. A painful lump or swelling may be apparent. Some babies have a mass that can be seen on an ultrasound before birth. Treatment often involves surgery. In rare cases when a teratoma is malignant, chemotherapy or radiation may be needed.